Lid mounting hinge and counterbalance mechanism

ABSTRACT

A combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid or cover upon a cabinet for vertical swinging movement between counterbalanced horizontally disposed closed and vertically disposed fully open positions; the mechanism establishing a stable intermediate or lid-substantially open position. The construction of the mechanism permits balancing effects on either side of the intermediate position to be independently controlled.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,906,587 Little 1*Sept. 23, 1975 LID MOUNTING HINGE AND 2,822,568 2/1958 Hosea 16/190 COUNTERBALANCE MECHANISM 3,001,225 9/1961 Squire 3,112,514 12/1963 Ostrom Inventor: Carl Llttle, J e NY 3,187,374 6/1965 Lundell 16/190 Assigneez pp p y I 3,452,388 7/1969 Stone 16/190 Jamestown, N.Y. Notice: The portion of the t rm f thi Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich patent subsequent to Se t, 20, Attorney, Agent, or FirmBean & Bean 1991, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 505,491 [57] ABSTRACT Related Application Data A combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 422,745, Dec. 7, for hingedly mounting a lid 01' cover upon a cabinet 1973, abandoned. for vertical swinging movement between counterbalanced horizontally disposed closed and vertically dis- [52] U.S. Cl. 16/190 posed fully pen positions; the mechanism establishing [51] Int. (1 EOSF 1/12 a table intermediate or id-3ubstantially open posi- Field of Search 146 tion. The construction of the'mechanism permits balancing effects on either side of the intermediate posi- [56] References Cited tion to be independently controlled.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,549,140 4/1951 Svendsen 1'6/190 X 19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 of6 3,906,587

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Shet 3 of6 3,906,587

I I I IUHM.

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 5 of6 3,906,587

US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 6 of6 3,906,587

- LID MOUNTING HINGE AND COUNTERBALANCE MECHANISM REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application'is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 422,745, filed Dec. 7, 1973 and now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed towards improvements in lid mounting, combination hinge and counterbalance mechanisms of the general type disclosed in commonly assigned US. Pat No. 3,187,374.

The combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism of the present invention broadly includes first and second brackets adapted to be attached to the lid and the cabinet, respectively; a hinge pin for pivotally interconnecting the brackets; a hanger member movably connected to the first bracket by a torque control pivot pin-bearing opening assembly for movement relative to the second bracket during swinging movements of the lid; and means for interconnecting the hanger member to the second bracket including a spring exerting force on the first bracket through the hanger member and pivot pin-bearing opening assembly. The spring may be in the form of either a compression or tension type spring, and if desired, a friction brake or damper device may be conveniently employed in association with mechanisms of the type featuring compression springs. The pivot pin-bearing opening assembly serves to establish a stable intermediate, substantially open position of the lid and to establish torques opposing movement of the lid from the intermediate position towards both fully closed and fully open positions.

The mechanism of the present invention will be primarily described for use in connection with a cabinetlid or cover installation of the type wherein installation requirements are such that lid torque changes direction about thelid hinge axis at some intermediate position of the lid between its fully closed and fully opened positions. Thus, in this type of installation, the present mechanism serves to counterbalance both positive and negative or bi-directional" torques developed by the lid about the hinge axis, as well as to prevent loose or uncontrolled movements of the lid at its intermediate position.

It will be understood, however, that the mechanism of the present invention may also be employed to both counterbalance lid torque and provide a lid opening safety brake in cabinet-lid installations of the type where lid torque is uni-directional. For this type of installation, prior counterbalancing mechanisms have been typically designed to provide a uni-directional spring/friction torque effect, which is equal to or slightly exceeds lid torque effect due to gravity, as the lid approaches its fully opened position, in order to force the lid into such position and thereafter maintain the lid firmly" or rigidly therein. Since the open position of the lid is normally defined by engagement of abutments provided on the lid and cabinet mounting hinge parts, these prior constructions may result in substantial jarring of the lid, hinge parts and mechanismcabinet fastener devices each time the lid is opened.

When using the present invention in a uni-directional lid torque installation, the pivot pin-bearing opening assembly would serve to define a stable intermediate position, which is disposed in close proximity to the full or maximum open position of the lid. Specifically, a first pivot pin would be employed to provide unidirectional torque effects for counterbalancingv the unidirectional lid torque, during movement of the lid from its closed towards its intermediate position, whereas a second pivot pin would be employed to provide opposite and progressively increasing uni-directional torque effect for resiliently opposing movement of the lid from the intermediate position towards open position. By this arrangement, the lid may be opened without subjecting movable components of the hinge mechanism to jarring engagements with an abutment and the lid, when open, will tend to stay open until manually returned to close position.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the present invention may be more fully described in the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the present counterbalance mechanism when in lid closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 33 in FIG. 2, but showing the lid in its intermediate position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lid in its fully opened position;

FIG. 5 is a composite graphical illustration of the relation of the spring force and braking friction torque effects operating on the lid :at different angular positions thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing an other form of the present counterbalance mechanism when in lid closed condition;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view tall-ten vertically through the mechanism of FIG. 6, but while in intermediate condition;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 88 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through a further form of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein one form of the combination hinge and counterbalancing mechanism of the present invention is generally designated as 10 and shown as being employed for hingedly mounting a lid or cover 12 upon an open top cabinet having a rear wall or frame member 14. While in the illustrated construction, mechanism 10 is shown as being fixed to the rearwardly facing surface of frame member 14 and hidden from view by a rear panel or cover sheet 16, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. One or more mechanisms 10 may be employed to provide proper hinging support for a cabinet lid, depending upon its size and/or dimensional characteristics, but in normal practice two or more mechanisms will be employed.

By referring to the drawings, it will be apparent that mechanism 10 is somewhat similar in overall design and mode of operation to the counterbalancing mechanism desclosed in commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 3,187,374. In this respect, mechanism 10 comprises generally U-shaped first and second brackets 20 and 22 adapted to be suitably affixed, as by bolts, machine screws or the like, to lid 12 and frame member 14, respectively; a hinge pin 24 for pivotally interconnecting brackets 20 and 22; a hanger or stirrup member 26,

which is of generally U-shaped form including a bottom or sill portion 28 formed with an aperture 30 and a pair of opposing leg portions 32; hanger pin means 34 for pivotally connecting upper ends of leg portions 32 to first bracket 20 for swinging movement relative to second bracket 22 during swinging movements of lid 12; and means for interconnecting hanger member 26 to second bracket 22 whereby to exert forces on first bracket 20, during opening and closing movements of the lid. This latter means includes a compression spring device 36; an upper member 38; and a headed tie rod or bolt 40 bearing or fixed at its bottom end to a bottom plate 42 and slideably extending vertically through bottom portion aperture 30 and spring device 36 and fixed, as by screw threading, at its upper end to upper member 38, whereby to hold the latter in constant distance relationship with bottom plate 42. Further, a motion snubbing mechanism 44 is preferably arranged between the bottom end of spring device 36 and bottom portion 28 and comprises a cup-shaped member 46, which is fitted within aperture 30 and defines a conically-shaped opening 48; a resiliently deformable friction material sleeve 50, which has a rounded bottom end portion resting in opening 48; and an apertured disc or ring plate 52 arranged for bearing engagement intermediate spring device 36 and sleeve 50.

Motion snubbing mechanism 44 functions in a manner identical to that described in the above-mentioned US. Pat. .No. 3,187,374 in that the internal wall surfaces of sleeve 50 bear in frictional engagement with tie rod 40, whereby to friction brake or snub movements of hanger member 26 relative to the tie rod in order to damp swinging movements of lid 12; the frictional bearing pressure between the sleeve and the tie rod varying according to thrust pressure variations of spring device 36 against sleeve 50 as a function of spring device compression variations incident to cover positional changes. Moreover, the degree to which spring device 36 is compressed may be adjustably controlled by rotations of tie rod 40 relative to bottom plate 42 and upper member 38 to vary the distance therebetween.

Mechanism differs from that described in the above mentioned patent principally in the construction of the hanger pin means 34 by which hanger member 26 is interconnected with first bracket 20, and in that upper member 38 is not constrained by hanger member 26 for tilting movements therewith incident to lid positional changes. This latter arrangement permits the hanger member to tilt relative to second bracket 22 as the lid is opened, see for example FIGS. 3 and 4, while the axis of tie rod 40 and thus the force exerted by spring device 36 remain in an intersecting relationship with the axis of hinge pin 24. The utilization in the present construction of a pair of coil type compression springs for forming spring device 36 is only to accommodate mechanism 10 for use with an extremely heavy lid; it being understood that only one coil spring would normally be sufficient for light weight lid installations.

For purposes of illustration, mechanism 10 is shown as being employed in a cabinet-lid installation of the type wherein installation requirements are such that the lid torque, due to gravity, changes direction about the axis of hinge pin 24 at some intermediate-open position of the lid, such as that shown in FIG. 3, between its fully closed and fully open positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively. Also, for purposes of illustration, lid torque is shown in FIG. 5 as being positive when tending to move the lid to a closed position from its intermediate position, i.e., counter-clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3, and as being negative when tending to move the lid to full open position from its intermediate position i.e. clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the weight of the lid establishes a torque about hinge pin 24, which progressively decreases from some maximum positive value when the lid is closed to zero at the intermediate position and then progressively increases to some maximum negative value as the lid moves into its fully opened position.

In the specific installation illustrated in the drawings, the closed, intermediate and open positions of the lid occur at 0, and lid angles, respectively. Of course, the values of lid angle for the intermediate and fully open positions of the lid will vary depending upon installation requirements, such as the position of the hinge axis.

In accordance with the preferred form of the present invention, hanger pin means 34 is in the form of a pivot pin-bearing opening assembly, which comprises a pair of aligned bearing openings 60, which are provided one in each of leg portions 32, and parallel first and second pivot pins 62 and 64, which are carried by firsthinge part 20 for movement along arcuate paths about hinge pin 24 and have their opposite ends arranged to project outwardly through openings 60. Specifically, bearing openings 60 are each formed with downwardly opening, bearing edge portions or smoothly curved slot recesses 60a and 60b, which are arranged to engage pivot pins 62 and 64, respectively, during opening and closing movements of lid 12. As will be apparent from viewing FIG. 3, the spacing between bearing edge portions 60a and 60b corresponds to the distance between pivot pins 62 and 64. The remaining bounding edge portions of bearing openings 60, which join edge portions 60a and 60b, may be of any desired configuration, so long as they do not interfere with free movement of pivot pins 62 and 64 into and out of engagement with edge portions 60a and 60b and do not unduly weaken the upper ends of leg portions 32. In the illustrated construction, pivot pin 62 and the lower edge surfaces 220 of bracket 22 form cooperating abutrnents serving to define the full open position of lid 12 shown in FIG. 4.

If desired, the above described parts of the pivot pinbearing opening assembly may be reversed without departing from the mode of operation of the preferred form of the invention to be hereinafter described. In this connection, it is contemplated that the pivot pins may be supported by the hanger member and one or a pair of inverted bearing openings may be defined by first hinge part 20.

The parts of mechanism 10 are so dimensioned and arranged that when lid 12 is closed or down, first pivot pin 62 is arranged in bearing engagement with edge portion 60a and disposed on the right hand side of hinge pin 24, as viewed in FIG. 1. Thus, hanger member 26 is pulled upwardly by the torque developed by the weight of lid 12, so as to compress spring device 36 in the range of its maximum tensioned condition. Conversely, spring device 36 exerts a maximum pull downwardly through hanger member 26 upon pivot pin 62 and this tends to bias first bracket 20 for rotation about hinge pin 24 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to proximately counterbalance the lid torque load due to gravity effects when lid 12 is in closed positron.

As the lid is moved upwardly from closed position by the application of manual pressure against the front edge of the lid, pivot pin 62 is swung downwardly as second pivot pin 64 is swung upwardly about hinge pin 24 until the intermediate position of the lid is reached, wherein both pivot pins are positioned in bearing engagement with hanger member 26 and disposed on opposite sides of hinge pin 24. As will be apparent from viewing FIGS. 1 and 3, downward movement of pivot pin 62 permits downward movement of bottom portion 28 relative to upper member 38 with a resultant expansion/relaxation of of spring device 36 and effects a reduction of the effective counterbalance moment arm measured between pivot pin 62 and the line of action of spring force through hinge pin 24. As a result, spring torque applied through pivot pin 62 is gradually re.- duced to some minimum valueas lid 12 approaches its intermediate position in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. I

As lid 12 is moved beyond its intermediate position, pivot pin 62 is immediately swung downwardly from engagement with edge portion 60a as pivot pin 64 is swung upwardly about the axis of hinge pin 24, while in engagement with edge portion 60b. As a result, bottom portion 28 is forced to move upwardly relative to upper member 38 to again compress spring device 36 and there is an increase in the counterbalance moment arm measured between pivot pin 64 and line of action of spring force through hinge pin 24. Thus, as indicated in FIG. 5, the spring torque applied through pivot pin 64 is gradually increased until some maximum value is reached at the lid open position; such spring torque being opposite in direction to the spring torque established through pivot pin 62 and tending to bias first bracket 20 for rotation about hinge pin 24 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4.

It will be noted that in the construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, spring device 36 is selected, pivot pins 62 and 64 are positioned and mechanism 44 is adjusted such that spring torque effects cooperate with friction braking or motion snubbing effects to generally, compensate for and balance lid torque effects throughout the range of lid movements, except adjacent the intermediate position of the lid. In this connection, it will be understood that friction braking or motion snubbing effects produced by mechanism 44 are always opposite to the direction of movement of the lid and thus either opposed or assist the spring torques established through pivot pins 62 and 64, such that there is defined lid counterbalance envelopes on both sides of the lid intermediate position. As long as the lid torque curves lie within these envelopes bounded by SPRING TORQUE PLUS FRICTION TORQUE and SPRING TORQUE MINUS FRICTION TORQUE the lid is counterbalanced and will automatically come to rest whenever manual lid closing or opening forces are removed.

The arrangement of pivot pins 62 and 64 relative to hinge pin 24 allows for large effective moment arms producing SPRING TORQUE to develop as soon as lid 12 is moved in either direction from its intermediate positionv This enables the counterbalance envelopes to be patterned such that the lid torque curves fall outside of the counterbalance envelopes adjacent the intermediate position of the lid, as indicated by the shaded areas in FIG. 5 designated as FLY BACK." This means that within the range of lid angles of between about and the torque produced by mechanism 10 is greater than the counter-acting torque produced by the weight of the lid and the lid is thereby forced to FLY BACK into its intermediate position. The same condition exists below the 0 torque line shown in FIG. 5, wherein the torque produced by mechanism 10 is greater than the counter-acting torque produced by the lid within the range'of lid angles of between about 75 and 78. IF desired, mechanism 10 may be designed such that the lid torque is arranged above the counterbalance envelope for lid angles adjacent the closed position in order to permit the weight of the lid to posi tively force same into a tight closed position.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, which illustrate an alternative form of the present counterbalance mechanism designated as 10. In that mechanism 10' is functionally similar to mechanism 10, comparable parts are designated by like prime numbers.

More specifically, mechanism 10 comprises generally U-shaped first and second brackets 20 and 22' adapted to be suitably affixed to the lid and cabinet, not shown; a pair of axially aligned hinge pins 24 for pivotally interconnecting brackets 20 and 22'; a hanger or stirrup member 26', which is of generally U-shaped form including a bottom or sill portion 28' formed with an aperture 30 and a pair of opposing leg portions 32; hanger pin means 34' for pivotally connecting the upper ends of leg portions 32' to first bracket 20 for swinging movement relative to second bracket 22 during swinging movements of the lid; a compression type spring device 36'; a member 38; a tie rod or bolt 40'; and a plate 42'. This construction differs from that of mechanism 10 in that member 38' is disposed vertically below plate 42 with the latter being formed with a pair of ears 80, which are rockably received within concave notches 82 opening downwardly through lower edges of the legs of bracket 22', and with an enlarged opening 42a adapted to receive motion snubbing mechanism 44. Rocking movements of plate 42' are about an axis arranged essentially parallel to the hinge axis established by hinge pins 24', such movements of plate 42' permitting pivotal or tilting" movements of rod 40' as required to follow movements of pivot pins 62' and 64' while maintaining plate 42 and member 38' essentially parallel.

Further, rod 40' bears on or is fixed at its bottom end to member 38 and slideably extends successively through spring device 36, mechanism 44 and opening 42a, and is fixed at its upper end to hanger member bottom portion 28', as by welding. Also, it will be seen that ring 52' is formed with a relatively smaller diameter than ring 52 in order to permit the gutermost spring 36a of spring device 36' to bear directly on plate 42; this arrangement permitting greater variation/control of the previously described lid counter balance envelopes, since both of springs 36a and 36b exert counterbalancing forces, while only inner spring 36b is operative to vary friction braking effects. As will be apparent, however, both of these springs may be arranged to bear on ring 52, or mechanism 44' completely dispensed with, if desired.

The structural arrangement of mechanism 10, wherein the legs of bracket 22 are-sandwiched between hanger member legs 32' and the legs of bracket 20', dictates that there be employed a pair of connector plates 86, which are journaled on the inner ends of each hinge pin 24' in a sandwich relationship between hanger legs 32' and the legs of brackets 22', as best shown in FIG. 8. With this construction, the ends of first pivot pin 62 are supported one by each of plates 86, whereas the ends of second'pivot pin 64, which extend outwardly through apertures formed in plates 86 and arcuate slots 88 formed in the legs of bracket 22', are supported one by each of the legs of bracket '20. Also, with this construction, secondpivot pin 64' 000perates with hinge pins 24' and plates 86 to tie or connect first pivot pin 62' for movement with bracket 20' and may, if desired, engage with the right-hand end of slots 88, as viewed in FIG. 7 to define, the full open position of the lid. y

The mode of operation of mechanism 10' is identical to that of mechanism 10 from ,the standpoint that spring device 36' tends to pull hanger member 26' downwardly, such that forces are exerted on bracket 20 through the hanger member and first pivot pin 62 forestablishing a torque opposing movement of a lid from the intermediate position shown in FIG. 7 towards fully closed position shown in FIG. 6, and through the hanger member and second pivot pin 64' for establishing a torque opposing movement of the lid. from the intermediate position toward fully open position, not

shown.

FIG. 9 illustrates another form of the present counterbalance mechanism designated as 10" In that mechanism 10" is also functionally similarto mechanisms l and comparable parts are designated by like double prime numbers.

Mechanism l0 differs from the previously described mechanisms principally in that a tension spring device 36" adjustable anchor rod or hook 90 are employed to connect hanger member 2 6" to plate 42 and then bracket 22" and in that no motion snubbing mechanism is provided. However, the mode of opera tion of this mechanism is identical to that of mechanisms'l0 and 10 from the standpoint that pivot pins 62" and 64" successively cooperate with opening 60 to establish oppositely directed torques about the axis of hinge pin 24", during vertical swinging movements of bracket From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that mechanisms 10, 10 and 10" each offer the advantage of permitting a single spring device to be employed in effectively counterbalancing bi-directional lid torques, whereas the utilization of a pair of pivot pins serves to allow the lid to be rigidly or firmly held in its intermediate position, aswell as to allow counterbalancing effects on both sides of the intermediate position to be axis during movement between fully closed and fully open positions, it will be readily appreciated that these mechanisms may be advantageously employed in cabinet-lid installations of the type wherein lid torque is uni-directional. In this latter type of installation, the

pivot pins would be arranged such a stable intermediate lid position is established in close proximity to the full or maximum 'open position of the lid, i.e. within about 2 or 3. In this arrangement, the first 'pivot pin would be' employed to provide uni-directional torque effects for counterbalancing lid torque during movement of the lid between its closed and intermediate positions, whereas the 'second pivot pin would be employed to provide an opposite and progressively increasing unidirectional torque effect, which would work in cooperation with the lid torque in opposing movement of the lid from the intermediate position into full open position. Thus, the mechanism would be operable to maintain the lid in a stable, substantially open position and to resiliently oppose continued opening movements of the lid into contact with hinge mechanism abutments defining the full open position of the lid.

It will be understood that mechanisms of the type described are normallye'mployed to both counterbalance and support-a lidfor vertical swinging movements. However, the present mechanisms may be employed to simply counterbalance a lid when the latter is supported by separated hinge devices for such movements. In either case, the first and second brackets would be suitably attached or coupled one to each of the lid and cabinet. Also, it will apparent that while design convenience normally dictates that the relatively bulky hangermember and spring device be associated with the stationary or cabinet affixed bracket of the mechanisrn, 'these parts may, if desired, be arranged to swing with the lid.

I claim:

1. A cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for mounting a lid upon a cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed and essentially verticallydisposed fully open positions, said mechanism including:

first and second bracket means adapted to be attached one to each of said lid and said cabinet; hinge pin means pivotally interconnecting said first and second bracket means;

'a hanger member;

first and second pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said-first bracket means; bearing opening means defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said first pivotpin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said fully closed position and an intermediate position, said second pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said I intermediate position and said fully open position;

and means interconnecting said hanger member and said second bracket means including spring means for exerting forces on said first bracket means through I said hanger member and said first pivot pin for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from said intermediate position towards said fully closed position and for exerting forces on said first bracket means through said hanger member and said second pivot pin for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from said intermediate position towards said fully open position. 2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said opening means defines a pair of bearing edge portions spaced apart a distance corresponding to the space between said first and second pivot pins and arranged for bearing engagement with an associated one of said first and second pivot pins during movements of said lid between said fully closed and fully open positions, said first'and second pivot pins cooperating with said bearing edge portions to define said intermediate position wherein both said first and second pivot pins are arranged in bearing engagement with associated ones of said bearing edge portions.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said pivot pins are carried for movement with said first bracket means, and said first bracket means is adapted to be attached to said lid.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said second pivot pin and second bracket means define cooperating abutments for defining said fully open position.

5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said spring means is a compression spring.

6. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein sai spring means is a tension spring.

7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said means interconnecting said hanger member and said second bracket means includes a plate having an opening therethrough and supported by said second bracket means for rocking movements about an axis essentially parallel to a hinge axis defined by said hinge pin means, a member, and a tie rod extending through said plate opening and having its opposite ends fixed to said member and said hanger member, and said spring means in cludes a compression spring surrounding said tie rod with its opposite ends bearing on said plate and said member.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said spring means includes another compression spring surrounding said tie rod, a friction device slideably receiving said tie rod, and said other compression spring has its opposite ends bearing on said member and said friction device thereby to bias the latter against said plate, said friction device serving to friction brake move ments of said tie rod as a function of other spring compression variations incident to movements of said lid between said fully closed and open positions.

9. In a cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed and essentially vertically disposed fully open positions, said mechanism including first and second bracket means adapted to be attached one to each of said lid and said cabinet; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hangermember to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid; compression spring means bearing at one end thereof upon said apertured portion and bearing at an opposite end thereof against an other member; and a tie rod fixed at one end thereof to a plate and slideably extending through said apertured portion and said spring means and fixed at an opposite end thereof to said other mem ber whereby to hold the latter in a constant distance relation with said plate, said plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said, second bracket means, whereby said spring means exerts forces acting through said hanger member and said hanger pin means for counterbalancing the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughout at least a substantial portion of the range of its swinging movements, the improvement wherein said hanger pin means comprises:

first and second pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and bearing opening means defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said first pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said fully closed position and an intermediate lid position for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from intermediate position towards said fully closed position, and said second pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said intermediate position and said fully open position for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from said intermediate position towards said fully open position. 10. In a cover mounting; combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed and essentially vertically disposed fully open positions, said mechanism including first and second bracket means adapted to be attached one to each of said lid and said cabinet; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid; compression spring means bearing one end thereof upon said apertured portion and bearing at an opposite end thereof against an other member; and a tie rod fixed at one end thereof to a plate and slideably extending through said apertured portion and said spring means and fixed at an opposite end thereof to said other member whereby to hold the latter in a constant distance relationship with said plate, said plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said second bracket means, whereby said spring means exerts forces acting through said hanger member and said hanger pin means for counterbalancing the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughout at least a substantial portion of the range of its swinging movements, the improvement wherein said hanger pin means comprises:

a pair of pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and bearing opening means defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said bearing opening means defining a pair of bearing edge portions spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of said pivot pins and arranged for bearing engagement with an associated one of said pivot pins during movements of said lid between said fully closed and fully open positions, said pivot pins cooperating with said bearing edge portions to define an intermediate-open position of said lid arranged intermediate said fully closed and fully open positions, wherein both said pivot pins are arranged in bearing engagement with an associated one of said bearing edge: portions, a first of said pivot pins cooperating with its associated bearing edge portion for establishing a first torque tending to bias said lid for movement from said fully closed position into said intermediate position and a second of said pivot pins cooperating with its associated bearing edge portion for establishing a second torque opposite to said first torque tending to bias said lid for movement from said fully open position into said intermediate position.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said pivot pins are carried by said first bracket means and said first bracket means is fixed to said lid.

12. The improvement according to claim 1 1, wherein said second pivot pin and said second bracket means define cooperating abutments for defining said fully open position of said lid.

13. A cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between an essentially horizontally disposed fully closed position and an essentially vertically disposed fully open position through an intermediate-open position, said mechanism including first and second bracket means adapted to be attached to said lid and to said cabinet, respectively; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured bottom portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid; a compression spring device; an upper member; a friction braking sleeve device; and a tie rod fixed at its bottom end to a bottom plate and slideably extending through said bottom portion and said friction sleeve device and spring device and fixed at its upper end to said upper member whereby to hold the latter in a constant distance relation with said bottom plate, said bottom plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said second bracket means, said spring device bearing at its upper end upon said upper member and bearing at its lower end against said friction sleeve device whereby to bias said apertured bottom portion in a direction downwardly towards said bottom plate whereby said spring device exerts forces acting through said hanger member and said hanger pin means for counterbalancing torque effects of the gravity of said lid, said hanger pin means includes a first portion defined by a pair of parallel pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and a second portion including a bearing opening defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means and including a pair of bearing portions spaced apart through a distance corresponding to the distance between said pivot pins, that portion of said hanger pin means carried by said first bracket means being movable thereby along an arcuate path about said hinge pin from a position corresponding to said fully closed position wherein only a first of said pivot pins is in bearing engagement with a first of said bearing portions and through an intermediate position corresponding to said intermediate-open position wherein said first pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and a second of said pivot pins is in bearing engagement with a second of said bearing portions and into a position corresponding to said fully open position wherein only said second pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion,

said first pivot pin being arranged on one side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and said second pivot pin being arranged on an opposite side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion.

14. A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said upper member is unconstrained by said hanger member, whereby said hanger member is free to tilt relative to both said second bracket means and said tie rod during swinging movements of said lid.

15. A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said pivot pins are carried by said first bracket means.

16. A=-mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said second pivot pin and said second bracket means define cooperating abutments for defining said fully open position of said lid.

17. A cover mounting combustion hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed position and an essentially vertically disposed fully open position wherein the weight of said lid develops bi-directional lid torque characteristics having a zero value at an intermediate-open position of said lid, said lid torque tending to oppose movement of said lid from both said fully closed and fully open positions towards said intermediate-open position, said mechanism including in combination:

first and second bracket means adapted to be attached to said lid and to said cabinet, respectively;

a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means;

a hanger member having an apertured bottom portion;

hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid, said hanger pin means including a first portion defined by a pair of parallel pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and a second portion including a bearing opening defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said bearing opening including a pair of bearing portions spaced apart to a distance corresponding to the distance between said pivot pins, that portion of said hanger pin means carried by said first bracket means being movable thereby along an arcuate path about said hinge pin from a position corresponding to said fully closed position wherein only a first of said pivot means is in bearing engagement with a first of said bearing portions and through an intermediate position corresponding to said intermediate-open position wherein said first pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and a second of said pivot pin is in bearing engagement with a second of said bearing portions and into a position corresponding to said fully open position wherein only said second pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion, said first pivot pin being arranged on one side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and said second pivot pin being arranged on an opposite side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion;

a compression spring device;

intermediate open position and forces acting through said second pivot pin and second bearing portion when in engagement for establishing a secan upper member; a friction braking device; and a tie rod fixed at its bottom end to a bottom plate and slideably extending through said apertured bottom ond spring torque about said hinge pin opposite to portion and said friction device and said spring desaid first spring pin torque and tending to bias said vice and fixed at its upper end to said upper memlid from said fully open position towards said interber whereby to hold the latter in a constant relamediate open position, said spring torques and said tionship with said bottom plate, said bottom plate friction torques cooperating to define balancing being constrained from movement by engagement envelopes effective for counterbalancing lid torque with said second bracket means, said spring device throughout substantially the whole of the range of bearing at its upper end upon said upper member lid swinging movements, said first and second and bearing at its lower end against said friction despring torques substantially exceeding said lid vice whereby to bias said friction device into entorque adjacent said intermediate-open position gagement with said bottom portion and thereby whereby to create astable intermediate-open posibias said bottom portion downwardly towards said 15 tion for said lid. bottom plate, said friction device serving to friction 18. A mechanism according to claim 17, wherein said brake movements of said hanger member relative pivot pins are carried by said first bracket means, said to said tie rod as a function of spring device comfirst bracket means is fixed to said lid, and said second pression variations whereby to establish friction pivot pin and said second bracket means define coopertorques directed opposite to the direction of moveating abutments for defining said fully open position of ment of said lid, said spring device exerting forces said lid. acting through said first pivot pin and first bearing 19. A cover mounting combination hinge and counportion when in engagement for establishing a first terbalance mechanism substantially as described herein spring torque about said hinge pin tending to bias and with reference to the accompanying drawings. said lid from said fully closed position towards said UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTEFIQATE OF CQRRECTIUN PATENT NO. 3 906 5 7 DATED September 23, 1975 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[SEAL] 1, Line 52 "where" should be wherein 2, Line 66 "disclosed" is misspelled.

3; Line 9 "movement" should be movements 5, Line 53 "opposed" should be oppose 7, Line 7 "brackets" should be bracket 7, Line 39 "and" is omitted after "36" 10, Line 14 "said" is omitted after "from".

11, Line 35 "said" is omitted after "and" 12, Line 17 "combustion" should be combination Signed and Sealed this A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner oj'latents and Trademarks 

1. A cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for mounting a lid upon a cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed and essentially vertically disposed fully open positions, said mechanism including: first and second bracket means adapted to be attached one to each of said lid and said cabinet; hinge pin means pivotally interconnecting said first and second bracket means; a hanger member; first and second pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means; bearing opening means defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said first pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said fully closed position and an intermediate position, said second pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said intermediate position and said fully open position; And means interconnecting said hanger member and said second bracket means including spring means for exerting forces on said first bracket means through said hanger member and said first pivot pin for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from said intermediate position towards said fully closed position and for exerting forces on said first bracket means through said hanger member and said second pivot pin for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from said intermediate position towards said fully open position.
 2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said opening means defines a pair of bearing edge portions spaced apart a distance corresponding to the space between said first and second pivot pins and arranged for bearing engagement with an associated one of said first and second pivot pins during movements of said lid between said fully closed and fully open positions, said first and second pivot pins cooperating with said bearing edge portions to define said intermediate position wherein both said first and second pivot pins are arranged in bearing engagement with associated ones of said bearing edge portions.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said pivot pins are carried for movement with said first bracket means, and said first bracket means is adapted to be attached to said lid.
 4. A mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said second pivot pin and second bracket means define cooperating abutments for defining said fully open position.
 5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said spring means is a compression spring.
 6. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said spring means is a tension spring.
 7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said means interconnecting said hanger member and said second bracket means includes a plate having an opening therethrough and supported by said second bracket means for rocking movements about an axis essentially parallel to a hinge axis defined by said hinge pin means, a member, and a tie rod extending through said plate opening and having its opposite ends fixed to said member and said hanger member, and said spring means includes a compression spring surrounding said tie rod with its opposite ends bearing on said plate and said member.
 8. A mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said spring means includes another compression spring surrounding said tie rod, a friction device slideably receiving said tie rod, and said other compression spring has its opposite ends bearing on said member and said friction device thereby to bias the latter against said plate, said friction device serving to friction brake movements of said tie rod as a function of other spring compression variations incident to movements of said lid between said fully closed and open positions.
 9. In a cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed and essentially vertically disposed fully open positions, said mechanism including first and second bracket means adapted to be attached one to each of said lid and said cabinet; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid; compression spring means bearing at one end thereof upon said apertured portion and bearing at an opposite end thereof against an other member; and a tie rod fixed at one end thereof to a plate and slideably extending through said apertured portion and said spring means and fixed at an opposite end thereof to said other member whereby to hold the latter in a constant distance relation with said plate, said plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said second bracket means, whereby said spring means exerts forces acting tHrough said hanger member and said hanger pin means for counterbalancing the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughout at least a substantial portion of the range of its swinging movements, the improvement wherein said hanger pin means comprises: first and second pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and bearing opening means defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said first pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said fully closed position and an intermediate lid position for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from intermediate position towards said fully closed position, and said second pivot pin being arranged for bearing engagement with said opening means during movement of said lid between said intermediate position and said fully open position for establishing a torque opposing movement of said lid from said intermediate position towards said fully open position.
 10. In a cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed and essentially vertically disposed fully open positions, said mechanism including first and second bracket means adapted to be attached one to each of said lid and said cabinet; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid; compression spring means bearing one end thereof upon said apertured portion and bearing at an opposite end thereof against an other member; and a tie rod fixed at one end thereof to a plate and slideably extending through said apertured portion and said spring means and fixed at an opposite end thereof to said other member whereby to hold the latter in a constant distance relationship with said plate, said plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said second bracket means, whereby said spring means exerts forces acting through said hanger member and said hanger pin means for counterbalancing the torque effects of gravity on said lid throughout at least a substantial portion of the range of its swinging movements, the improvement wherein said hanger pin means comprises: a pair of pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and bearing opening means defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said bearing opening means defining a pair of bearing edge portions spaced apart a distance corresponding to the spacing of said pivot pins and arranged for bearing engagement with an associated one of said pivot pins during movements of said lid between said fully closed and fully open positions, said pivot pins cooperating with said bearing edge portions to define an intermediate-open position of said lid arranged intermediate said fully closed and fully open positions, wherein both said pivot pins are arranged in bearing engagement with an associated one of said bearing edge portions, a first of said pivot pins cooperating with its associated bearing edge portion for establishing a first torque tending to bias said lid for movement from said fully closed position into said intermediate position and a second of said pivot pins cooperating with its associated bearing edge portion for establishing a second torque opposite to said first torque tending to bias said lid for movement from said fully open position into said intermediate position.
 11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said pivot pins are carried by said first bracket means and said first bracket means is fixed to said lid.
 12. The improvement according to claim 11, wherein said second pivot pin and said second bracket means define coopeRating abutments for defining said fully open position of said lid.
 13. A cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between an essentially horizontally disposed fully closed position and an essentially vertically disposed fully open position through an intermediate-open position, said mechanism including first and second bracket means adapted to be attached to said lid and to said cabinet, respectively; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured bottom portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid; a compression spring device; an upper member; a friction braking sleeve device; and a tie rod fixed at its bottom end to a bottom plate and slideably extending through said bottom portion and said friction sleeve device and spring device and fixed at its upper end to said upper member whereby to hold the latter in a constant distance relation with said bottom plate, said bottom plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said second bracket means, said spring device bearing at its upper end upon said upper member and bearing at its lower end against said friction sleeve device whereby to bias said apertured bottom portion in a direction downwardly towards said bottom plate whereby said spring device exerts forces acting through said hanger member and said hanger pin means for counterbalancing torque effects of the gravity of said lid, said hanger pin means includes a first portion defined by a pair of parallel pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and a second portion including a bearing opening defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means and including a pair of bearing portions spaced apart through a distance corresponding to the distance between said pivot pins, that portion of said hanger pin means carried by said first bracket means being movable thereby along an arcuate path about said hinge pin from a position corresponding to said fully closed position wherein only a first of said pivot pins is in bearing engagement with a first of said bearing portions and through an intermediate position corresponding to said intermediate-open position wherein said first pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and a second of said pivot pins is in bearing engagement with a second of said bearing portions and into a position corresponding to said fully open position wherein only said second pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion, said first pivot pin being arranged on one side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and said second pivot pin being arranged on an opposite side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion.
 14. A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said upper member is unconstrained by said hanger member, whereby said hanger member is free to tilt relative to both said second bracket means and said tie rod during swinging movements of said lid.
 15. A mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said pivot pins are carried by said first bracket means.
 16. A mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said second pivot pin and said second bracket means define cooperating abutments for defining said fully open position of said lid.
 17. A cover mounting combustion hinge and counterbalance mechanism for hingedly mounting a lid upon an open top cabinet for vertical swinging movement between essentially horizontally disposed fully closed position and an essentially vertically disposed fully open position wherein the weight of said lid develops bi-directional lid torque characteristics having a zero value at an intermediate-open position of said lid, said lid torque tending to oppose mOvement of said lid from both said fully closed and fully open positions towards said intermediate-open position, said mechanism including in combination: first and second bracket means adapted to be attached to said lid and to said cabinet, respectively; a hinge pin pivotally interconnecting said bracket means; a hanger member having an apertured bottom portion; hanger pin means for movably connecting said hanger member to said first bracket means for movement relative to said second bracket means during swinging movements of said lid, said hanger pin means including a first portion defined by a pair of parallel pivot pins carried by one of said hanger member and said first bracket means and a second portion including a bearing opening defined by the other of said hanger member and said first bracket means, said bearing opening including a pair of bearing portions spaced apart to a distance corresponding to the distance between said pivot pins, that portion of said hanger pin means carried by said first bracket means being movable thereby along an arcuate path about said hinge pin from a position corresponding to said fully closed position wherein only a first of said pivot means is in bearing engagement with a first of said bearing portions and through an intermediate position corresponding to said intermediate-open position wherein said first pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and a second of said pivot pin is in bearing engagement with a second of said bearing portions and into a position corresponding to said fully open position wherein only said second pivot pin is in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion, said first pivot pin being arranged on one side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said first bearing portion and said second pivot pin being arranged on an opposite side of said hinge pin while in bearing engagement with said second bearing portion; a compression spring device; an upper member; a friction braking device; and a tie rod fixed at its bottom end to a bottom plate and slideably extending through said apertured bottom portion and said friction device and said spring device and fixed at its upper end to said upper member whereby to hold the latter in a constant relationship with said bottom plate, said bottom plate being constrained from movement by engagement with said second bracket means, said spring device bearing at its upper end upon said upper member and bearing at its lower end against said friction device whereby to bias said friction device into engagement with said bottom portion and thereby bias said bottom portion downwardly towards said bottom plate, said friction device serving to friction brake movements of said hanger member relative to said tie rod as a function of spring device compression variations whereby to establish friction torques directed opposite to the direction of movement of said lid, said spring device exerting forces acting through said first pivot pin and first bearing portion when in engagement for establishing a first spring torque about said hinge pin tending to bias said lid from said fully closed position towards said intermediate open position and forces acting through said second pivot pin and second bearing portion when in engagement for establishing a second spring torque about said hinge pin opposite to said first spring pin torque and tending to bias said lid from said fully open position towards said intermediate open position, said spring torques and said friction torques cooperating to define balancing envelopes effective for counterbalancing lid torque throughout substantially the whole of the range of lid swinging movements, said first and second spring torques substantially exceeding said lid torque adjacent said intermediate-open position whereby to create a stable intermediate-open position for said lid.
 18. A mechanism according to claim 17, wherein said pivot pins are carried by said first bracket mEans, said first bracket means is fixed to said lid, and said second pivot pin and said second bracket means define cooperating abutments for defining said fully open position of said lid.
 19. A cover mounting combination hinge and counterbalance mechanism substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 